Their most recent disc continues the infernal
theme, and focuses on a repertoire which I find absolutely irresistible — Elizabethan and early
Jacobean instrumental music. The recording has several quirks which set it apart. To begin with,
though this is a duo of one gambist and one lutenist, the repertoire includes, through the miracle
of overdubbing, works for two lutes, or two viols. Next, the interpretive choices on various
occasions draw on the modern practices of traditional Celtic music (very convincing, and hardly
out of place, though I must confess I am already a fan of jigs and reels). Soprano Graciela
Gibelli’s thin, reedy, new-Agey sound and her pronunciation continue in this vein (like almost
any singer who is not a native speaker of English, she is unable to rid herself of the habits of her
own tongue, but rather than take RP as a model, she has chosen an Irish accent. And why not?
RP is certainly far from the speech of Dowland). And finally, Ghielmi and Pianca both contribute
original compositions in the Celtic style.
As I said above, I am a sucker for this stuff, the duo plays it with panache and brio, and the sound
is beautiful. What’s not to like? If this music is your bag, this belongs on your shelf, and I bet it
will have a frequent place in your CD player.
Tom Moore
image=http://www.operatoday.com/Devil_Dream.png
image_description=The Devil’s Dream
product=yes
product_title=The Devil’s Dream
product_by=Vittorio Ghielmi, viols; Luca Pianca, lute, chitarrone, baroque guitar; Graciela S. Gibelli, soprano.
product_id=Harmonia Mundi Iberia HMI 987066 [CD]
price=$16.99
product_url=http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=148107